Yes, Sandra, I've seen that passage from the writings. I would just think that the material aspect of the Law can be dealt with without converting to a different religoin. At least in terms of islamic law, you have living scholars who can arrive at rulings by understanding the principles of the Quran and sunnah and understanding the realities of contemporary life.
Peace Gilberto On Tue, 28 Dec 2004 04:42:21 -0900, Sandra Chamberlain <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Gilberto: <> I think that if God is really speaking and a > religion is worth its salt, it doesn't need to be replaced by > another in order to progress. If the revelation is really > inspired, then morally sensitive people from the particular > religious tradiition can still go back to the revelation and > apply the truth in ways which are appropriate for our times. > <> > > from`Abdu'l-Bahá: > > " . the Law of God is divided into two parts. One is the > fundamental basis which comprises all spiritual things -- that > is to say, it refers to the spiritual virtues and divine > qualities; this does not change nor alter: it is the Holy of > Holies, which is the essence of the Law of Adam, Noah, > Abraham, Moses, Christ, Muhammad, the Báb, and Bahá'u'lláh, > and WHICH LASTS and is established in ALL THE PROPHETIC > CYCLES. It will NEVER BE ABROGATED, for it is spiritual and > not material truth; it is faith, knowledge, certitude, > justice, piety, righteousness, trustworthiness, love of God, > benevolence, purity, detachment, humility, meekness, patience > and constancy. It shows mercy to the poor, defends the > oppressed, gives to the wretched and uplifts the fallen. > > These divine qualities, these eternal commandments, WILL NEVER > BE ABOLISHED; nay, they will last and remain established for > ever and ever. These virtues of humanity WILL BE RENEWED in > each of the different cycles; for at the end of every cycle > the spiritual Law of God -- that is to say, the human > virtues -- disappears, and only the form subsists. . > > .These foundations of the Religion of God, which are spiritual > and which are the virtues of humanity, cannot be abrogated; > they are irremovable and eternal, and are renewed in the cycle > of every Prophet. > > The second part of the Religion of God, which refers to the > material world, and which comprises fasting, prayer, forms of > worship, marriage and divorce, the abolition of slavery, legal > processes, transactions, indemnities for murder, violence, > theft and injuries -- this part of the Law of God, which > refers to material things, is MODIFIED AND ALTERED IN EACH > PROPHETIC CYCLE in accordance with the NECESSITIES of the > times." (Abdu'l-Baha, Some Answered Questions, p. 46) (my > caps) > > I would agree that the spiritual attributes of which humans > are capable are eternally "appropriate". However, the > material (scientific) capabilities of humanity have advanced > to such a degree (and, continue to do so) that it has become > necessary to find solutions that will insure the continued > survival of humanity, as inhabitants of one planet. > > lovingly, Sandra > > > __________________________________________________ > You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe, send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] > To subscribe, use subscribe bahai-st in the message body to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Baha'i Studies is available through the following: > Mail - mailto:bahai-st@list.jccc.edu > Web - http://list.jccc.edu/read/?forum=bahai-st > News - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st > Public - http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist > Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.net > New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.edu > -- "My people are hydroponic" __________________________________________________ You are subscribed to Baha'i Studies as: mailto:archive@mail-archive.com To unsubscribe, send a blank email to mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, use subscribe bahai-st in the message body to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Baha'i Studies is available through the following: Mail - mailto:bahai-st@list.jccc.edu Web - http://list.jccc.edu/read/?forum=bahai-st News - news://list.jccc.edu/bahai-st Public - http://www.escribe.com/religion/bahaist Old Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.net New Public - http://www.mail-archive.com/bahai-st@list.jccc.edu
